Savage's Model 116 FCSS 6.5-284 Norma Part I

Recently, Real Guns reviewed the Savage’s Model 114 American Classic; took it apart, turned it inside out, shot it and reported on all there was to see. The Classic was defined as a well executed traditional sporter, chambered for a very traditional 270 Winchester cartridge. The combination left me feeling warm and fuzzy in a very… traditional way. Even MY  demographic, grouchy old guys ages 116 – 137, can see that the American Classic is something to be appreciated.

One night, while watching my favorite “choot em” show, Swamp People… that Troy cracks me up, I found that just about everyone was popping alligators with synthetic stocked and stainless steel firearms. So I switched over to On Demand “Life Below Zero” and “Hunters” to substantiate and found much the same. It was then that I began to ponder the possibility that there may be notions as to what makes a good rifle, other than my own. Interesting concept.

The truth of the matter is, Savage offers a wide selection of firearms that project the presence of everything from modern machinery to traditional nostalgia. Since we already covered traditional, it seemed the next step should be something with a more contemporary feel and chambered for a more contemporary cartridge. We felt the 6.5-284 Norma chamber was a good place to begin because of its proven track record with competitive shooters and because of its effectiveness as a big game hunting cartridge.

Savage currently produces five firearms chambered for the 6.5-284 Norma cartridge. Products range from the budget priced synthetic stock – carbon steel Model 111 Trophy Hunter XP, packaged with a Nikon 3-9x40mm scope with a  $612 MSRP to the  Laminate wood – stainless steel Model 12 Bench Rest with a 29″ barrel and a $1629 price tag.

We elected to go with the Savage Model 116 FCSS Weather Warrior because we feel it is representative of the hunting rifles Savage is producing these days, because it includes the proprietary Savage features that set it apart from other brands on the market and because it is midrange in price.

In Savage nomenclature, the Model 116 FCSS Weather Warrior is configured as; 116=Long Action, F=Synthetic Stock, C=Detachable Box Magazine, SS=Stainless Steel hardware. The Weather Warrior line includes a Savage AccuStock with an integral aluminum frame.

Savage’s accuracy technology….

The Savage bolt, below, has leading locking lugs and a similarly shaped trailing bolt guide. The guide rotates freely about the bolt’s body while traveling within tracks cut into the inside walls of the receiver, which keeps the bolt supported and moving in a straight line. As a result the rifle has a very slick bolt throw with none of the odd pressures and cycling rough spots found in many other bolt action rifles.

The Savage bolt head floats. When the breech is closed, the rear surface of the lugs square to the action’s lug seats. The cartridge case head is contained within the rifle’s recessed bolt face and the bolt headspaces appropriately from the barrel face. While I enjoy threading barrels, cutting shoulders and chambers to get proper, minimal headspace, Savage has used a process we see more and more manufacturers moving toward. A headspace gauge is inserted in the action, the barrel is screwed in until it makes contact and then a lock nut hold the barrel and receiver in that precise arrangement.

Manufacturing technology is at a point where good designs, precision parts and improved tools and equipment often outperform more abstract labor intensive, complex craft skills. As a relic who has spent a great deal of time micro inletting and glass bedding wood stocks to get a rifle to stop stringing or dispersing groups, I am glad to see the same objective can be achieved in a production environment. Leading manufacturers are sticking frames or “V” blocks, or pillars in synthetic and wood stocks so that mating points are always the same, rifle to rifle, and so that assembly and reassembly doesn’t adversely impact accuracy. A key component to the Savage system is the AccuStock.

The AccuStock has an embedded rigid aluminum rail that secured the action with fasteners at two points, locates it fore and aft at the recoil lug and uniformly cradles the sides of the action, applying consistent pressure. This approach provides three axes support; lateral, vertical and longitudinal.

While the frame extends almost the full length of the barrel channel, the barrel floats as illustrated by slipping a 0.015″ sheet of construction paper under the barrel. The frame extension reinforces the frame’s embedded position in the stock and provides greater overall rigidity to the platform. Savage barrels are button rifled for bore consistency. Savage states that they inspect and hand straighten each barrel they produce. I don’t know what process they use in concert with hand straightening barrels, but I can say that in checking targets for group size, the process works well.

A good professional trigger job refines friction surfaces and diminished contact areas… reduced sear engagement. Typically this condition poses a problem when jarring a firearm might shock the sear / hammer assembly and cause an accidental discharge. The Savage AccuTrigger design combines safety with an adjustable trigger pull that can be set to a light pull resistance.

Savage’s trigger combines low friction contact surfaces and minimal engagement to provide a trigger that can easily be adjusted within a range of 2.5 Lbs to 6 Lbs. The incorporation of the AccuRelease feature prevents accidental discharge even at the lowest pull resistance by blocking any sear travel until the release has been fully compressed by a shooter’s finger on the rifle’s trigger. On our subject rifle, the trigger pull was crisp, short and it broke cleanly.

Assorted and sundry features

The Savage Model 116 FCSS magazine is made of steel, rather than the less durable poly that is so common in other brands these days. Steel affords greater feed control and it is longer lasting. The magazine’s latch mechanism is positive, inserting or removing. The magazine may be removed for loading or unloading, however, it can also be easily topped while inserted.

Of particular benefit to the long action Model 116 and the 6.5-284 cartridge, the magazine is long enough, 3.5″, to not be a restriction in determining an assembled cartridges maximum overall length.

The Savage has a cocked/uncocked indicator that protrudes through the rear of the bolt when the rifle is cocked, left panel below.

The Savage has a three position tang safety, full back to block trigger and lock bolt closed, mid position, the trigger remains blocked but the bolt mag be cycled to facilitate unloading, full forward with red dot exposed – safety full off.

In moving on to Part II…

The Savage Model 116 is an interesting firearm. There was a time, years back, when I would have had a different view of a Savage rifle. Most were budget priced. modest in appearance, even if accurate and reliable. Over more recent years, Savage appears to be investing more in aesthetics and broadening the product line to service a wider demographic.

It bears restating. The AccuStock stock is well made and clean looking. The rifle’s metal finish is uniform all over, including that which falls below the stock line. The trigger is very clean and the stock’s proportions and geometry… well, they work for me. The 6.5-284 Norma, well proven in competition and hunting, is a terrific cartridge for both applications… responsive to component combinations and offering lots of potential. We’ll see how that all plays out in Part II.

Savage’s Model 116 FCSS 6.5-284 Norma Part I
Savage’s Model 116 FCSS 6.5-284 Norma Part 2